Having worked with groups of writers in CBC’s London offices over the past few years, I ran the first three-month virtual course before Christmas 2013, with the aim of replicating online exactly what we have done so successfully in the classroom.

Put simply: it worked.

I was fascinated to see how the different elements – teaching, critiquing works-in-progress and industry discussion – translated online.

As with classroom groups, the writers worked hard commenting on each others novel extracts. If anything, the requirement to write down all our thoughts made for more detailed criticism. And, for some, not being able to see the whites of each others eyes made it easier to be more forthright. This element of the course, sustained critical attention on students’ work-in-progress, worked particularly well online.

The round-the-clock element of the course quickly fostered a sense of community among the group. Not everyone was tech-savvy to begin with, but we all soon learnt how to make the most out of the forum. And while it took a little longer to introduce and discuss the different elements of novel-writing online, the lack of a time constraint meant that writers were free to spend longer on homework tasks, reading examples and adding their thoughts to ongoing threads. Being able to look back at these discussion threads – including those in which students grilled the agents of Curtis Brown and Conville & Walsh on all aspects of the writing and publishing process – was a huge benefit, too.

The real excitement for me was the quality and diversity of the writing on the course. I conducted telephone tutorials with writers in France, Switzerland, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand… They and those from all over the UK were united by two things: talent and a preference for studying online. Fourteen students from our London-based courses and three students from the online courses have secured book deals so far. I have no doubt whatsoever that others from our online courses will go on to join them.

For a dedicated online course for those writing for young adults or children as part of a group of 15 (in which students are selected on the basis of their submission), with a top children’s author, apply for: